Hong Kong service suppliers will also be allowed to establish wholly-owned private non-enterprises to operate welfare agencies for the disabled in Guangdong.

The validity of temporary license for Hong Kong accounting firms to conduct auditing business will be extended from two years to five years, and an examination center in Hong Kong for mainland accounting qualification tests will be allowed in Hong Kong.

Among other measures, Hong Kong permanent residents with Chinese citizenship will also be allowed to sit mainland tourist guide qualification exams.

The central government and the HKSAR government also signed agreements on cooperation in trademark protection as well as in the field of accounting.

The two sides also agreed to launch 25 pilot measures specially for facilitating economic cooperation between Hong Kong and the neighboring mainland province of Guandong. Some of the measures were included in the Supplement to the CEPA.

In tourism, short-term visits to Hong Kong will be easier for the residents of the whole Guandong province, and mainland-authorized Hong Kong travel agencies will be allowed to organize group tours to Hong Kong Disneyland for non-Guangdong residents who have lived in Shenzhen and worked with local firms for over a year.

Hong Kong medical and dental service suppliers will be allowed to set up wholly-owned outpatient clinics in the neighboring mainland province of Guangdong.

Approval authorities for certain activities, including some in education, were also delegated by the central government to the Guangdong provincial government.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2008)